Iceland stores to continue accepting old pound coins until the end of October

High Street giant Iceland and its Food Warehouse stores are to accept payments in old “round pound” coins until the end of this month rather than Sunday's official deadline.

The firm, whose North-East stores include five in Sunderland, three in Hartlepool and two in South Shields, will now accept them until Tuesday, October 31.

Iceland group managing director Tarsem Dhaliwal said: “We have been ready to accept the new pound coins since they entered circulation in March and all our trolleys have been converted to accept both new and old-style coins.

"However, it is very clear that hundreds of millions of the old coins remain in circulation just three days before the Royal Mint’s deadline.

"We are keen to help our customers by making it possible for them to spend them in our stores rather than having to take them to a bank.

"So our message is: bring your old coins to Iceland and I’m sure you will be amazed at what you can buy for a pound."